FLOPPERS AT INFINEON
Words by Darr Hawthorne
Photos by Darr Hawthorne and Mike Bumbeck
4/27/05
The Goodguys returned to Sonoma's Infineon
Raceway for their Nitro Nationals, but with predictions
of rain and wet weather the racecars showed up without many
spectators in the stands. The possibility of rain made for
a late start to Saturday's qualifying, but ultimately oildowns
from the Nostalgia Top Fuelers provided the most liquid,
preventing no more than one qualifying session for the nitro
Funny Cars.
Qualifying was led by Larry Pettit
driving the "Crazy Horse" ran a career best 6.114
ET/237.96 MPH setting a new Goodguys speed record. The Doty
& Pettit Mustang runner-upped to Dan Horan in the final.
2004 CIFCA Champ Dennis LaCharite
qualified 4th, running 6.514/231.24 MPH with help from Larry
Pettit. LaCharite's '69 'Vette had posted a 6.09 in testing
at Sacramento Raceway.
Mike
Savage driving Jim Broome's "Heat Wave" '78 Dodge
Challenger qualified 5th with a 6.723/211.76 MPH. Event
winner Dan Horan defeated Savage in the semi-final round.
Mike Adams qualified 3rd in his
'79 Corvette, running 6.344/226.39 but going out in the
second round to eventual runner-up Larry Pettit.